the recent demise of the Sounders (not just in the w-l column but just in the overall play) has completely taken away any interest in the playoffs i have. only a matchup with the Timbers would encourage a watch

Mauro will be back as a non DP, most likely. He said he wants to play two more years here, and I think he knows he wont get DP money to stay.

Ozzie will be our next DP, you can almost count on it. Dude is good enough to warrant it. L.A. did it with Omar Gonzalez earlier this year.

If Eddie Says then thats great. We have 3 legit goal scorers on our squad. We have a good rotation.

If he goes, great, we can play dempsey in behind Oba and utilize more midfield oriented formations (4-3-3/4-5-1/4-2-3-1). Sure that'll mean we have to bring in another 2nd tier striker (A neagle, or Fucito type).

Team isn't rebuilding. Not really. A few pieces of the puzzle will change, but not enough to create a new puzzle.

SeatownJay wrote:The new coach will want to rebuild this roster, Smurf.

There won't be a new coach.

Management said they won't be making any emotional decisions about Sigi's future. The last 6 games of the season doesn't hold the key to his future. He's a solid coach who has taken an expansion team to the playoffs 5 strait years.

I think everyone is over blowing the whole Sigi out thing.

Even if Sigi goes you're not going to see that much roster turn-over. You're probably less likely to see guys like Estrada, Rose, Caskey...but thats about it.

Eddie and Mauro are two that could be gone...could stay. I think the rest of the core will remains. Gspurning, Yedlin, Hurtado, Traore, Ianni, Burch, Ozzie, Evans, Neagle, Oba, and Dempsey. I don't think those guys are going anywhere....

If management is fine with the Sounders being the Arsenal of the MLS, making the playoffs but not winning anything, then Sigi will probably stay. But if they're serious about bringing championships to Seattle then they have to consider replacing him.

You are absolutely entitled to state your opinion whenever you wish, and I am absolutely entitled to point out the stupidity of that opinion with the same frequency.

Smurf wrote:Mauro will be back as a non DP, most likely. He said he wants to play two more years here, and I think he knows he wont get DP money to stay.

Ozzie will be our next DP, you can almost count on it. Dude is good enough to warrant it. L.A. did it with Omar Gonzalez earlier this year.

If Eddie Says then thats great. We have 3 legit goal scorers on our squad. We have a good rotation.

If he goes, great, we can play dempsey in behind Oba and utilize more midfield oriented formations (4-3-3/4-5-1/4-2-3-1). Sure that'll mean we have to bring in another 2nd tier striker (A neagle, or Fucito type).

Team isn't rebuilding. Not really. A few pieces of the puzzle will change, but not enough to create a new puzzle.

There is a good chance we replace at least 4 players from our ideal 11, I'd consider that a rebuild.

Awesome? No, it wasn't. Getting a result solely because of referee error isn't awesome, it's weak. I want a team that earns their points on the field. Luckily Keane scored later to give L.A. the result they deserved.

You are absolutely entitled to state your opinion whenever you wish, and I am absolutely entitled to point out the stupidity of that opinion with the same frequency.

Awesome? No, it wasn't. Getting a result solely because of referee error isn't awesome, it's weak. I want a team that earns their points on the field. Luckily Keane scored later to give L.A. the result they deserved.

agreed...

the losing streak may be over, but there is not confidence gained from that game, no momentum to be taken going into the playoffs.

It's the way you finish....unfortunately the Sounders didn't get that memo. Because as of recent they are finishing quite horribly. This team has no chemistry, they can't score if Johnson isn't there and even if he is they can't score much, they don't play good defense, probably the most disappointing team in MLS. All the stars but still nothing to show for it. Bad effort, coaching, etc all the way around this year (thus far).

Portland has less talent than the Sounders yet they are a much better team (at least this year). They got rid of their best player, Kenny Cooper, and they got better. Sounders keep signing and trading for these names Martins, Dempsey, Johnson, Moffatt, and then get worse. Seems like the M's curse has hit the Sounders too.

hawkfan68 wrote:It's the way you finish....unfortunately the Sounders didn't get that memo. Because as of recent they are finishing quite horribly. This team has no chemistry, they can't score if Johnson isn't there and even if he is they can't score much, they don't play good defense, probably the most disappointing team in MLS. All the stars but still nothing to show for it. Bad effort, coaching, etc all the way around this year (thus far).

Portland has less talent than the Sounders yet they are a much better team (at least this year). They got rid of their best player, Kenny Cooper, and they got better. Sounders keep signing and trading for these names Martins, Dempsey, Johnson, Moffatt, and then get worse. Seems like the M's curse has hit the Sounders too.

its coaching...

Caleb Porter is one of the best young coaches in the United States.. hell he might be THE best.

i would agree that the Sounders have become one of the most disappointing teams in MLS. The playoffs will be telling. If they can make a run, even to the second round, then you could suggest they just hit a rough patch at a bad time. My thought is they started the season the same way they are finishing it. There is quality there and theyve showed they can dominate the league. if they are able to pull the strings and emerge as they team from 2 months ago then anything is possible.

at the moment they are lucky to be even in the playoffs. there are half a dozen teams who are better at the moment whose season has ended. I guess we will see...

Uncle Si wrote:Smurf, can you go over the playoff matchups and format again?

I'm not Smurf, but by virtue of finishing 4th in the Western Conference, Seattle will host Colorado in a play-in game on 10/30. The winner of that match will host Portland on 11/2 in the conference semifinals, then play @ Portland in the second leg of the conference semi-finals at a date to be determined later. L.A. and Real Salt Lake will face off in the other semi-final in the West.

In the East, Houston hosts Montreal in the play-in game, with the winner getting Supporters Shield winners New York. Kansas City & New England play in the second East semi-final.

The conference semis & finals are both home & home matchups with total goals determining the winner. The MLS Cup is a winner-take-all final hosted by the team with the higher seed.

We play Colorado on Wednesday night in a 1-off play-in game. No away game. Strait up, win and we move on. Lose and we are done. Had we have won over LA we wouldn't even be playing in this game (Bye), and a draw secured us homefield for this match.

In the east Houston will be playing Montreal in Houston. Like us, Montreal was hot in the middle of the year and fell into the playoff's much like we did.

Both of the play-in games will be shown Nationally on NBCSN as well as on local and regional channels (Kong and Root for Sounder fans)

The winner of Colorado/Seattle will play Portland.

The winner of Houston/Montreal will play New York.

The Conference Semi-Finals (aka MLS Cup Quarter Finals, or the last are next. Higher seed, gets home field (means they host second game). Total Aggregate scoring. No Away goals. Don't even think about it. Its strait up Aggregate and the winner moves on. If the teams are tied after both legs, the 2nd game will go into extra time, and then Penalties.

Portland vs Seattle/Colorado - First leg of this game will be played on Saturday at 7:30pm (At the Clink if Sounders win) -Will air on NBCSNLA vs RSL - First leg played in Salt Lake, game on Sunday at 6pm - Will air on ESPN

New York vs Houston/Montreal - First leg played on Sunday at 12:30pm. Will air on on NBCSporting KC vs New England - First leg played in KC on Saturday at 5pm. - Will air on NBCSN

Portland holds the high seed in the west. New York in the east, and overall.

I'm not saying that chemistry is the only problem, our back line is awful against speedy forwards and they've been together all year. It does however explain the lack of goals from the most talented attacking team in MLS.

Even if they were healthy, Sigi would find a way to screw up the lineup. Some of his decisions with the lineup are befuddling. For one, he plays Andy Rose too much. He pulls out Johnson and puts in Rosales. Just mindboggling at times. I think Smurf posted the ideal lineup a while back, unfortunately with Sigi that would never be. He's find a way to insert a less than ideal one.

LA probably but Portland are pretty good this year. LA always seem to do just enough to get to the play offs then excel. Same with Houston in the East. The Sounders will choke as per. Maybe not tomorrow but at the weekend if they win.

hawkfan68 wrote:Even if they were healthy, Sigi would find a way to screw up the lineup. Some of his decisions with the lineup are befuddling. For one, he plays Andy Rose too much. He pulls out Johnson and puts in Rosales. Just mindboggling at times. I think Smurf posted the ideal lineup a while back, unfortunately with Sigi that would never be. He's find a way to insert a less than ideal one.

Not that mind boggling at all.

Andy Rose does one thing very well. He keeps the ball. Sigi uses him when he wants more possession in the midfield and doesn't have a problem kicking the ball around. Sure, you sacrifice a WHOLE bunch of speed and creativity, but you keep the ball. Primary he would play Rose over Carrasco who was more of a defender. Carrasco was a mini-Alonso who wan't half the player Ozzie is. He was better at hitting long balls than ozzie, but thats about it. Rose was favored because he was different. He's a role player for sure, but his place on the squad is warrented.

As for the Johnson substitution you referred too there was a perfect reason for the change, and it was probably one of the smarter subs Sigi has ever made.

1. Rosales didn't start to rest him for the playoffs.2. Johnson tweaked his hamstring a few minutes prior to the sub (thats legit too, I saw him pull up slow after a long run from my view in the Brougham End)3. Sigi pulled off a minorly injured Johnson, and put his next best attacker on the pitch. 4. He saved EJ from further injury and he got his next best player on the pitch.

What I Don't agree with was the Andy Rose for Lamar Neagle Substitution. If you want Rose on the pitch, take off Moffat or Evans....at that point we were playing a slew of center mids out of position..

Evans, Alonso, Rose, Moffat....all on the pitch at the same time. The only one of them that has ANY business on the outside of the pitch is Evans. He's proved that much this year. The other 3 though...thats rough. Its no wonder the attack went to crap after that attack, we had no wingers.

That has been the story of the season IMO...inconsistent wing play.

Evans has been servicable...when he's hereNeagle is better at forward...strait up. His quality, and production drop off dramatically when played outside. Burch was forced into duty at left mid...and was out best left mid for a large stretch. That big winning streak we went on? Its partially due to Burch at LM with Gonzales behind him.Rosales was Rosales. Healthier than normal this season, but his minutes fell from a 80 minute player to a 55-60 minute player. His production and quality were decent. Less effective without EJ.Zakuani was ravaged by injury....again. I think he had 3 appearances before being shut down for the year. Martinez couldn't touch the field....when we needed him most he was with his national team...and couldn't earn a spot once he got back....then his contract expired and the club set sights deuce.

Rose, Caskey, Moffat have all been deployed on the wings at verying stages to moderate success. Caskey was a player who has gotten far less time than I would have thought. While he isn't a top 11 player at this club (and never will be), he is a solid 18 guy and should have gotten some time....more than he did.

That was our weakness right there. Out attack floundered, even with EJ, Oba, and Dempsey because we couldn't get consistency from the flanks.

IMO Sigi's tactical choices since Dempsey's arrival have been less than ideal, yet again, his player pool has been diminished as well..

I guess what i'm trying to say is...I get the Sigi hate. I do. I see what you see. I just see it differently. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. He's had some hard choices to make. Some he's made right. Some he's missed. Some he's made right, and then his players didn't deliver. Its football.

As infuriating as a coach as he is, there's very few that we could get I'd rather have. Very few.

My biggest issue with Sigi isn't even his lineup & substitution decisions, although they do leave a lot to be desired at times, it's the fact that he doesn't seem to have complete control of the team. Several times this season players were acting out of control, on the pitch & off, and Sigi was nowhere around. And the fact that it carried on throughout the season showed me that he wasn't doing much to address it or change it.

You are absolutely entitled to state your opinion whenever you wish, and I am absolutely entitled to point out the stupidity of that opinion with the same frequency.

SeatownJay wrote:My biggest issue with Sigi isn't even his lineup & substitution decisions, although they do leave a lot to be desired at times, it's the fact that he doesn't seem to have complete control of the team. Several times this season players were acting out of control, on the pitch & off, and Sigi was nowhere around. And the fact that it carried on throughout the season showed me that he wasn't doing much to address it or change it.

I really disagree with this assessment.

When a player has an outburst (Oba's sub, EJ's Pay me) he doesn't deal with it on the spot. He lets them have the moment. Then takes care of the situation behind closed doors.

Good all round performance by the Sounders. Gspurning really let his team mates down though, what was he thinking? Chest it, header it, do whatever. I think the ref would only have booked him if he hadn't shoved the Colorado player as well, kind of forced his hand. Bring on Portland. When is Martins back? Is his season over?